Tape-dispensing machine



Nov. 6, 1951 o. P. ERHARDT 2,574,175

TAPE-DISPENSING MACHINE Filed June 18, 1947 Patented Nov. 6, 1951 TAPE-DISPENSING MACHINE Oscar P. Erhardt, Derby, Conn., assigner to Derby Sealers, Incorporated, v Derby, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Application June 18, 1947, Serial No. 755,281

This invention relates to a tape-dispensing machine, and more particularly to a machine for dispensing pressure-sensitive tape, or tape which is tacky or clingable upon one surface.

As such tape is inclined to adhere to any surface with which the tacky side comes into contact, the dispensing of it presents certain problems not present in feeding tape of other kinds. Such tape is furnished in the form of a roll usually wound upon a hollow spool or drum made of cardboard, or some relatively stii material. As the inner diameter of the drum sometimes varies in size or, in some instances, may not be perfectly round in shape, some diiiiculty has been encountered in properly supporting the supply roll.

Moreover, as the supply of tape is used, the diameter of the roll becomes smaller, and thus the path of the tape from vthe roll to the feed rollers, or other form of outlet of the machine, is changed, and it is desirable that this be maint-ained at a uniform position as well as to have the supply roll supported for free rotative movement with as little friction as possible but held against play or any movement which might interfere 1 with the free feeding of the tape from the roll.

The present invention relates particularly to the means for supporting the supply roll of tape,

and provides for the support of the roll by simple and inexpensive mechanism, which, at thesame time, is positive and eflicientin action.

' One object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved means for dispensing tape which is tacky or clingable upon one surface.

A still further object of the invention is to provide for improved means for supporting the supply r'oll of tape. A still further objectof the invention is' to provide a tape-dispensing machine having a pair of rollers exterior to the supply roll of tape against which the supply roll bears during the feeding operation and between which the free end ofthe tape is drawn. A still further object of the invention is to provide a tape-dispensing machine of the character described, wherein the supply roll of tape will be carried by 'a member disposed interiorly of the supply roll, and will be urged against a vpair of exterior rollers between which the free end of the tape is drawn in the dispensing operation.

Still another object of the invention is to provide in a tape-dispensing machine of the character described a suitable stripping mechanism to strip the free end of the tape from a tearof or severing blade after a lengthof tape has 9 claims..y (c1. 24a-55.5)

been severed, so that the end remaining upon the supply roll will project freely from the machine in order that it may be readily grasped by the fingers of the operator for a succeeding operation.

To these and other ends the invention consists in the novel features and combinations of parts to be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a tape-dispensing machine embodying my invention, the cover of the machine being omitted to show the interior mechanism;

Fig. 2 is a front view partly in section of my tape-dispensing machine, theview being taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view similar to Fig. 1, but showing the parts in another position; and

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

To illustrate a preferred embodiment of my invention, I have illustrated a tape-dispensing machine comprising a base I0, which may be supported upon vacuum cups I I, so that the device will rest in a stable manner upon a fiat support. Upon the base I0 is mounted the housing or casing, this housing comprising a side wall I2, a top wall I3, which. may be formed integrally with the Wall I2, and a front wall I4. 'Ihe front wall, as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 4, extends only partway up the front of the casing so as to providev an opening I5 between its upper edge and the front edge of the top wall I3.

At the side of the case opposite the wall I2 is the opposing side wall I6, which, in this instance, forms the cover of the device, this wall being hinged at I'I and I8 to the lo-Wer portions of the walls I4 and I3, respectively, so that the coverl may swing downwardly to expose the interior mechanism and ypermit the supply roll to be placed in position for operation.' As shown more especially in Fig. 5, a headedrpinl I9 is provided at the upper edge ofthis wall, which pin is adapted to be clamped between the arms of a spring clip 2'0 secured to the upper side ofthe casing wall I2 to releasably maintain the cover I 6 in closed position.

Rotatably mounted upon the wall I 2 at the up-y per forward edge thereof opposite the opening I5Y are a pair of rollers 2I and 22, these rollers being mountedon studs 23 and 24 secured to the member I2'. At the forward edge of the top I3 is provided a severing or tear-off blade 25 against which the tape may be torn off when a suilicient' length has been drawn from the supply roll.

Slidably secured to the wall |2 is a supporting plate 2G, this plate being provided with slots 2l in which are received headed pins or screws 28 secured to the member |2. Upon the forward edge of this plate is rotatably mounted va roller 29, this roller, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4, being adapted to be received within the spool 30 of the supply roll of tape 3|, so that the supply roll is principally supported by the roller 29. A spring 32 is secured at one end to the plate 2 6 and at the other end to a st ud 33 upon the wall I2, so as to normally urge the plate 26 forwardly With respect to the front endl of the machine and urge the roller 29 toward the rollers 2| and 22, this movement being permitted by the slots'k 2t.

As shown in Fig. 1, the roller 29, beingurged against the inner periphery of the spool 30, will maintain the outer surface of the tape upon the supply roll 3| against the rollers 2| and 22, so that, when the tape is drawn from the supply rolll and the latter rotated, the rollers 2| and 22 will rotate in contact therewith, the adjacent surfaces of. the rouers 2i and 22 turning. in oooosite, directions. Thus the snooly roll will be. held between the three rollers 2|, 22,A and 29, and, regardless of the sige or thickness of the Supply 1.101,1.- hi? Outer Slifolce will fifi all' times be in. contact with the. rollers ,2l` and 22 onder the action of the spring 3 2,

It is desirable to provide some sort Qi stripping mechanism to prevent. ine. eno, of; the iene'ilrom adhering to the. severine blade 2 5, and for this purpose, I have provided stripping means which comprises. cnn. 3.5 pivoted at. 3.6. to the cover plate I5, this arm being provided: with a laterally turned end portion 3.1, designed to extend across tile. torweni face of the roller 2.2.. The, arm 35 may be heldagainst the cover plate, l 'i by means of a guide member 38 secured in -spaced relation to the nlate l, so. that. the, arm, extends. between this plate. the. member 3.8. and the letter limite. the ilbrow, of the arm in each direction. The arm 3,5 is urged to its lowermorst position, asshovwn in Eigs. 1 and 3, by a spring 3,9. secured et, its. lower end to the arm 3.5 andy secured at its' uriner end, es at 4.0, to the plate, i6.

es has been described, the stripping mechef includingA the spring 3e and the guide ber 38, are, ell secured to the cover plete lli. so that, wljlenQthis` cover is open and swung down-f wardly about the hinges I1 and i8, the. stripping mechanism will moved from a position adjacent, the. rollers. 2l, 22, end ,22, onli these members will he exposed in orderv that a roll of tape may be placed in the device in operative position,l Eor this purpose, the roller 29 may be drawn away from the rollers 2l and 22 by relirnctine ilie. plete 2,6; by means ofthe laterally turned end 42|. of this plate, and, when it has been thus` retracted so that ample space is pros vided. between this roller end the rollers 2i enel 22. the rollof tape may be placed in pasition with the roller- 29. Within the interior of the spool.' The plate gdmay. then be released, and the roller 2 9', will h e drawn toward the rollers 2| and 2.2l by the spring 32, thus holdingV the simply roll clampedY between the rollers in thev position shown in Figs. 1 and 4 rlfhe free end- 42, of the tape is drawn outwardlv, between the rollers` 2t and` 22. where it mer-lie. in, en exc-osea position to. be eresried by the iineers, cf the coercion In the operation of the device, the freeend 'r 42 of the tape is drawn outwardly, thus drawing a supply of tape from the supply roll and effecting the rotation of the rollers 2 I, 22, and 29. It may be observed that the upper or non-tacky surface of the tape is in contact with the roller 22, and, as the tape will normally be drawn in an upward direction, the free end of the tape will contact this roller rather than the roller 2| during the feeding operation. It will also be observed that the roller 22 will rotate in the same direction as does the tape in its feeding ml'ellenr is soon as a suillcient length of tape has been drawn from the machine, it may be moved upwardly against the, severing blade 25, thus causing upward movement of the stripper member 35 with the tape against the action of the spring 39 soon as the tape has been severed, however, the spring 39 Will cause the member 35 to move downwardly again as permitted by the guide member 3Q, thus drawing the endn 42 of the iene from the severing member 25 and sans: ing this end to stand outwardly in an exposed position es shown in Fie-4 1, where ii may be grasped. ,by the operator. While downward move ment of the stripper will be limited by the guide iii, it will: move the tooo downwardly to a posi: tion in. which the tacky side adheres. to 'che roll.- er 2|', es illustrated in ,this fleure o f the drawiossso that the. tree. end. of.. the tone will be held in. the. position shown.

While I have shownond described o preferred embodiment of my invention. it will be. under.- i'fQQl'l 'Chair il? 1S 99,12 t0 be limited to all ofl the details shown, but is capable of modification and variation within. the spirito: the invention and within the scope. o! the. claims...

What l claim. is.:`

1.l InA a, tapeedispensing machine, a trame, means thereon for supporting a supplyroll. of tjaie.Wound4 umn a hollow spool, said meansv com prisnfz a pair of rollers. engagingr the outer sur-1 fac of. roll., and means engaging the interior surface of thev spool. to cooperate with seid rc1lers. end-,bold the. roll in place, said means urging the supply roll toward said rollers.

2,511.1 a tape-dispensing machiney e ,freine means thereon for'supporting a supply roll of ltape wound upon a hollow spool, said means comprislng apair of roller-S engaging the outer sur| face of thercll. and means engaging the interior surface of the spooll to cooperate with said rollers and 1.20111 the, rollin place, said last-.named mean!! being ,springpressed toward said rollers.

In; a tape-dispensing machine, a frame, means thereon for supporting a supply roll of taperwound upon. a, hollow spool, said means comprising a pair of rollers engaging the outer. sul;- faee of the roll, means engaginglthe interior sur, face of; the spool to,A cooperate with said rollers and hold the roll in place, said last-named means comprising a third roller rotatably supported by the frame, and means urging said thirdl roller against, the inner surface of the spool.

4;. In a tapeedispensing machine, a frame, means thereon for supporting a supply roll of tape wound upon a, hollow spool, said means comprising a pair of rollers engaging the outer surface of the roll, and mea-ns engaging the interior sur-face of ,the spool to cooperate with said rollers` and hold the roll in place, Asaid last-named rr-ievansl comprising a third roller rotatably sup-v ported by; che freine and spring-pressed toward sold mst-named. rollers- 5. In a tape-dispensing machine, a. frame,

means thereon for supporting a supply roll of tape wound upon a hollow spool, said means comprising a pair of rollers engaging the outer surface of the roll and between which the free end of the tape is drawn from the supply roll, and means urging the supply roll against said roller, said means engaging the inner surface of the spool.

6. In a, tape-dispensing machine, a frame, means thereon for supporting a supply roll of tape wound upon a hollow spool, said means comprising a pair of rollers engaging the outer surface of the roll, means engaging the interior surface of the spool to cooperate with said rollers and hold the roll in place, severing means, and a stripping member carried by the frame and disposed forwardly of said rollers.

7. In a tape-dispensing machine, a frame, means thereon for supporting a supply roll of tape wound upon a hollow spool, said means comprising a pair of rollers engaging the outer surface of the roll, means engaging the interior surface of the spool to cooperate with said rollers and hold the roll in place, severing means, a stripping member carried by the frame and disposed forwardly of said rollers, and means mounting said stripping member movably on said frame.

8. In a tape-dispensing machine, a frame, means thereon for supporting a supply roll of tape wound upon a hollow spool, said means comprising a pair of rollers engaging the outer surface of the roll, means engaging the interior surface of the spool to cooperate with said rollers and hold the roll in place, severing means, a stripping member carried by the frame and disposed forwardly of said rollers, a cover hinged to the frame, and said stripping member being mounted upon said cover.

9. In a tape-dispensing machine, a frame, means thereon for supporting a supply roll of tape wound upon a hollow spool, said means comprising a pair of rollers engaging the outer surface of the roll, means engaging the interior surface of the spool to cooperate with said rollers and hold the roll in place, severing means, a stripping member carried by the frame and disposed forwardly of said rollers, a cover hinged to the frame, and said stripping member being pivotally mounted on said cover.

OSCAR P. ERHARDT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

